2 Corinthians 11:17

That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.

2 Corinthians 11:17, King James Version

2 Corinthians 11:17 in other translations

BSB	In this confident boasting of mine, I am not speaking as the Lord would, but as a fool.
WEB	That which I speak, I don’t speak according to the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting.
ASV	That which I speak, I speak not after the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of glorying.
YLT	That which I speak, I speak not according to the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this the confidence of boasting;
DARBY	What I speak I do not speak according to the Lord, but as in folly, in this confidence of boasting.
BBE	What I am now saying is not by the order of the Lord, but as a foolish person, taking credit to myself, as it seems.
Webster	That which I speak, I speak it not according to the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.

What does 2 Corinthians 11:17 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

17. not after the Lord--By inspired guidance he excepts this "glorying" or "boasting" from the inspired authoritativeness which belongs to all else that he wrote; even this boasting, though undesirable in itself, was permitted by the Spirit, taking into account its aim, namely, to draw off the Corinthians from their false teachers to the apostle. Therefore this passage gives no proof that any portion of Scripture is uninspired. It merely guards against his boasting being made a justification of boasting in general, which is not ordinarily "after the Lord," that is, consistent with Christian humility. foolishly--Greek, "in foolishness." confidence of boasting--(2Co 9:4).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 17. That which I speak. In praise of myself.

I speak it not after the Lord. 1Cor 7:12. The phrase here may mean either, I do not speak this by inspiration, or claiming to be inspired by the Lord; or more probably it may mean, I do not speak this imitating the example of the Lord Jesus, or strictly as becomes his follower. He was eminently modest, and never vaunted or boasted. And Paul probably means to say, "I do not in this profess to follow him entirely. I admit that it is a departure from his pure example in this respect. But circumstances have compelled me; and much as I would prefer another strain of remark, and sensible as I am in general of the folly of boasting, yet a regard to my apostolic office and authority urges me to this course." Bloomfield supposes that the apostle is not speaking seriously, but that he has an allusion to their view of what he was saying: "Be it so, if you think that what I speak, I speak not as I profess to do according to the Lord, or with a view to subserve the purposes of his religion, but as it were in folly, in the confidence of boasting, yet permit me to do it notwithstanding, since you allow others to do it." It is not easy to settle which is the true sense of the passage. I see no conclusive evidence against either. But the former seems to me to be most in accordance with the scope of the whole. Paul admitted that what he said was not in exact accordance with the spirit of the Lord Jesus; and in admitting this, he designed probably to administer a delicate hint that all their boasting was a wide departure from that spirit.

As it were foolishly. As in folly. It is to be admitted that to boast is in general foolish; and I admit that my language is open to this general charge.

In this confidence of boasting. In confident boasting. I speak confidently, and, I admit, in the spirit of boasting.

(d) "speak it not after" 1Cor 7:12 (e) "confidence of boasting" 2Cor 9:4 (++) "boasting" "glorying"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 17 I speak it not after the Lord - Were it not for the necessity under which I am laid to vindicate my apostleship, my present glorying would be inconsistent with my Christian profession of humility, and knowing no one after the flesh.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Corinthians 11:16-21

It is the duty and practice of Christians to humble themselves, in obedience to the command and example of the Lord; yet prudence must direct in what it is needful to do things which we may do lawfully, even the speaking of what God has wrought for us, and in us, and by us. Doubtless here is reference to facts in which the character of the false apostles had been shown. It is astonishing to see how such men bring…

Read the full comment on 2 Corinthians 11:16-21 →

2 Corinthians 11:17 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ὃhoWhatG3739

λαλῶ,lalōI am saying,G2980

οὐounotG3756

κατὰkataaccording toG2596

κύριονkurion[the] LordG2962

λαλῶlalōam I sayingG2980

ἀλλ᾽all᾽butG235

ὡςhōsasG5613

ἐνeninG1722

ἀφροσύνῃ,aphrosunēfoolishness,G877

ἐνeninG1722

ταύτῃtautēthisG3778

τῇtēatheG3588

ὑποστάσειhupostaseiconfidenceG5287

τῆςtēs<the>G3588

καυχήσεως.kauchēseōsof boasting.G2746

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 2 Corinthians 11:17

1 Corinthians 7:12
But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.
Philippians 3:3-6
For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
2 Corinthians 9:4
Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting.
1 Corinthians 7:25
Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.
2 Corinthians 11:18-27
Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also. For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise. For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face. I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also. …
1 Corinthians 7:6
But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

I speak it.
1Co 7:6,12
foolishly.
18-27; 9:4; Php 3:3-6

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

2 Corinthians 11:16
I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little.
2 Corinthians 11:17
That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.
2 Corinthians 11:18
Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.

Read all of 2 Corinthians 11

2 Corinthians 11:17 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Lo que hablo, no lo hablo según el Señor, sino como en locura, con esta confianza de gloria.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Ce que je dis, je ne le dis pas selon le Seigneur, mais comme un insensé, dans cette assurance dont j’use en me glorifiant.
German Elberfelder 1871	Was ich rede, rede ich nicht nach dem Herrn, sondern als in Torheit, in dieser Zuversicht des Rühmens.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	quod loquor, non loquor secundum Deum, sed quasi in insipientia, in hac substantia gloriæ.